Open AccessEctopic pregnancy in African developing countries
Author(s) -
Goyaux Nathalie,
Leke Robert,
Keita Namory,
Thonneau Patrick
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0412.2003.00175.x
Subject(s) - medicine , developing country , case fatality rate , developed country , incidence (geometry) , pelvic inflammatory disease , ectopic pregnancy , public health , medline , fertility , pregnancy , family medicine , population , gynecology , environmental health , economic growth , nursing , physics , biology , political science , law , optics , economics , genetics
Objective. We have reviewed the scientific literature on ectopic pregnancy (EP) in African countries published over the past 20 years and available from several databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, POPLINE, and Cochrane Fertility Regulation Group), with the aim of painting a complete picture of the situation (incidence, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and complications). Results. Although hospital‐based African studies indicate EP incidence has probably increased in Africa in recent decades, major methodological limitations in the published literature make it impossible to draw formal conclusions concerning the incidence of EP in Africa in recent years. As in industrialized countries, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) associated with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) must be considered as the most important risk factor for EP in developing countries. In African developing countries, a majority of hospital‐based studies have reported EP case fatality rates of around 1–3%, 10 times higher than that reported in industrialized countries. Late diagnosis, leading in almost all cases to major complications, and emergency surgical treatments are key elements accounting for such high fatality rates in women suffering from EP in Africa. Conclusion. EP should be considered a relevant public health indicator in developing countries, providing an overall picture of the capacity of a health system to deal with the diagnosis and treatment of emergency situations, especially in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.